Pants pressing machine

ABSTRACT

A clamping device on each side of a vertical pipe on a framework is adapted to grip a pair of pants at the front part of the waistband and a downwardly projecting journal reciprocated on the upper portion of the framework is adapted to grip the rear inner part of the waistband to tighten the waistband horizontally. A carriage that is selectively vertically movable on a guide portion of the framework carries a horizontally adjustable carriage having one pair of upwardly extending hooks and a second horizontally adjustable member carrying a second pair of upwardly extending hooks, whereby the hooks are adjustable in height to engage inside the legs of the pants and are horizontally adjustable relative to each other to tighten the cuffs of the pants, the hooks of the pairs disposed on opposite sides of the vertical pipe and a center plate pivoted to the journal which is positioned between the pants legs and a pair of guide frames on opposite sides of the center plate connected for back-and-forth movement relative to the framework and the center plate carrying lateral pressing plate members connected to be selectively moved toward and away from the center plate and vertical pipe to effect pressing of a pair of pants.

United States Briillos PANTS PRESSING MACHINE Giinther Briillos, Ludwig-Siebertstrasse 56, D 8803 Rothenburg O.T., Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 406,889

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brady, OBoyle & Gates [57] ABSTRACT A clamping device on each side of a vertical pipe on a framework is adapted to grip a pair of pants at the front part of the waistband and a downwardly projecting journal reciprocated on the upper portion of the framework is adapted to grip the rear inner part of the waistband to tighten the waistband horizontally. A carriage that is selectively vertically movable on a guide portion of the framework carries a horizontally adjustable carriage having one pair of upwardly extending hooks and a second horizontally adjustable member carrying a second pair of upwardly extending hooks, whereby the hooks are adjustable in height to engage inside the legs of the pants and are horizontally adjustable relative to each other to tighten the cuffs of the pants, the hooks of the pairs disposed on opposite sides of the vertical pipe and a center plate pivoted to the journal which is positioned between the pants legs and a pair of guide frames on opposite sides of the center plate connected for back-and-forth movement relative to the framework and the center plate carrying lateral pressing plate members connected to be selectively moved toward and away from the center plate and vertical pipe to effect pressing of a pair of pants.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PANTS PRESSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pants pressing machine which is able to provide a pair of pants of any length and size with a clear-cut, dry crease within a very short period of time without leaving any shiny spots on the seams. It also removes all unwanted creases incurred during wear or during manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a pants pressing machine which has these advantages is provided in the center and at the front of the machine with a vertical pipe of rectangular cross-section. This pipe is provided on each side with an upper clamping device for gripping a pair of pants by the front parts of the waistband at the points at which the front crease is designed to taper off at the top part of the pants. The machine according to the invention is also provided with a downwardly projecting journal designed to receive the back part of the waistband. This journal is guided horizontally in the upper part of the machine frame and is capable of being disposed at any desired distance from the rectangular pipe. The machine further comprises two pairs of upwardly projecting, height-adjustable hooks for gripping the cuffs of the pants. One pair of hooks is disposed on the right and left of the rectangular pipe and the spacing of the other pair with respect to the first pair is variable. The machine also comprises a vertically disposed center plate which widens towards the top and which is adapted to be introduced between the inner and back parts of both legs. This center plate is pivotally connected at the top to the journal and is displaced at the bottom by the guide means of the hooks gripping the cuffs. The machine further comprises two guide frames which are displaceable forwards and backwards parallel to the plane ofthe center plate and are guided above and below in the machine frame. The guide frames are also supported at the top by the frame of the machine and are disposed on the right and left of the center plate. The guide frames each enable a lateral plate to be moved in a horizontal direction at right angles to the center plate.

Supplying and removing the steam required for pressing a pair of pants is effected in a known way, which comprises that the center plate and the two lateral plates and the vertical pipe on the inside each consists of two chambers; the first of which is an elongated chamber in constant communication with steam having a temperature of above 100 C and the second, larger chamber is adapted to be connected to the first chamber and to supply steam being introduced via a plurality of openings to the parts of the second chamber covered by the pants. Another valve is provided to bring the second chamber into communication with a suction device.

As fabric expands when being treated with steam, when using large lateral plates, creases can be formed which are pressed in during the pressing operation owing to lack of free space. For this reason, according to the invention, each of the two lateral plates consists of two individual plates disposed in a common plane and being displaced in common. The first plate which is disposed adjacent to the vertical pipe has the position and easily the width of the vertical pipe and the second plate which is spaced apart from first plate covers the pants in the proximity of the usual rear crease. This second plate widens considerably towards the top.

To remove creases in places not covered by the plates it is advantageous for steam and subsequently dry warm air to be supplied from above to the parts of the pants not covered by the vertical pipe, the center plate and the two lateral plates.

In addition, it has been found useful for the displacement of the journal, the center plate and the lateral plates and the adjusting of the height of the pairs of hooks and the gripping of the cuffs to be effected exclusively by compressed air cylinders.

In operation it is sufficient for the operations of supplying steam and subsequently warm air and of extracting the steam to be effected every 5 seconds only; the return movement of the center plate and the lateral plates, the guide frames and the journal being effected automatically by automatic switching devices.

It is also obvious to automatically remove the pressed pants from the machine by means of a gripping device.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows the frame of the machine without any superstructural parts or components.

FIG. 2 shows the entire frame of the machine but without the warm air fan and without the main parts of the machine driven by the compressed air cylinders.

FIG. 3 shows an elevational view from the righthand side.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the center plate.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through one of the lateral plates.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the clamping device on the vertical pipe.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the pants pressing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The frame of the pants pressing machine according to the invention consists of a generally quadratic frame 1 comprising a U-iron which is open on the inside and which is provided with a strong U-iron 3 extending backwards from the center of the front side 2 and having its open side disposed downwards. In the center of the front side 2, the U-iron 3 bears a vertical, upwardly projecting pipe 4 of rectangular cross-section. The inside of this pipe 4 is divided by a longitudinally extending wall 5 into two individual chambers 6 and 7. Two vertical, upwardly projecting U-irons 8 rest on the rear end of the U-iron 3. A supporting plate 9 is connected to the upper ends of the two U-irons 8. This supporting plate 9 supports two U-irons 10 extending horizontally from the front to the rear and being open on the inside. Angle irons 11 are disposed on the rear parts of the U- irons 10. All the section irons 10, 11, are supported in the same way at their opposite ends on the upper end of the vertical pipe 4. Cross-supports 12 are disposed on the upper arms of the U-irons 10. The downwardly open U-irons 13 are attached to these cross supports 12. A hot air fan 14 is also mounted on the cross supports 12.

A four-wheeled carriage 15 from which a journal 16 and a retaining strip 17 project in a downward direction is displaced on the inside of the lower arms of the U- irons 10. The carriage 15 is connected to a doubleacting compressed air cylinder 19 via a piston rod 18.

A lateral arm 20 is provided on the lower end of the retaining strip 17. The upper end of a center plate 22 is pivotally connected at 21 to the arm 20. The crosssectional view through the center plate 22 in FIG. 4 shows that the inside of the center plate comprises a pipe divided by a cross wall 23 into two chambers 24 and 25. The long lateral walls of the large chamber 24 are perforated to enable the steam being introduced from chamber 25 by a controlled valve to be conveyed to the pants sections to be pressed. A pipe 26 which is connected to a vacuum line (not represented) is provided at the lower end of the center plate 22.

The center plate 22 is pivoted forwards against its own weight by a roller 27 which is mounted on the outer end of a carriage 28. The carriage 28 is provided with four rollers 29 which are normally guided on a rigid rod 30 of a carriage 31 at positions above and below the rod. The carriage 31 is also provided with four rollers 32 which grip the rear arms of the vertical U-irons 8 in a manner to be movably guided thereon. A compressed air cylinder 33 drives the carriage 31 up and down via a piston rod 34. A compressed air cylinder 35 which is rigidly connected to the carriage 31 moves the carriage 28 backwards and forwards as desired. The rollers 36 of the carriage 28 guide a long, rectangular rod 37 which bears two upwardly projecting hooks 38 at its outer end. The rod 37 is driven by a compressed air cylinder 39 which is rigidly connected to the carriage 28 and the piston rod 40 of which is flexibly connected to a downwardly projecting arm 41 of 40 the rod 37. A rod 42 is also rigidly connected to the carriage 28. In its normal position this rod 42 extends as far as the sides of the vertical pipe 4. It is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting hooks 43.

If, for example, compressed air is introduced into the double-acting cylinder 33, the carriage 31 is displaced upwards or downwards. The adjacent pairs of hooks 38 and 42 disposed in their normal position are displaced simultaneously with the carriage 31 until the hooks are inserted in the legs of the pants to be pressed. When this has been effected, if compressed air is supplied to the cylinder 39, the latter moves the hooks 38 approximately 150 mm backwards. If compressed air is Supplied to the cylinder 35, it will displace the carriage 28 until the pants are gripped by the pairs of hooks. In the course thereof, roller 27 pivots the center plate 22 about its pivot point 21 either forwards or backwards depending on the requirements of the pants to be pressed.

Two side plates 45, 46, each provided on their outside with an angle iron 47 projecting at right angles thereto are arranged on the right and the left of the center plate 22 and are adapted to press the legs of the pants firmly against the center plate 22. The two plates 45, 46, arranged on each side of the center plate 22 are guided parallel to the center plate by means of rollers 48, 49, and are each pressed by a compressed air cylinder 50 towards the center plate against the force of return springs 51. The frame 52 of rollers 49 is adapted to be adjustable about a journal 53 of a frame 54 which is rigidly connected to two vertically disposed U-rails which are disposed parallel to each other. The upper ends ofthe U-rails 55 bear rollers 56 which project into the U-rails 13 from below. The lower ends of the U- rails bear rollers 57 which project into the upwardly open U-rails 58 of the base frame.

Intermediate pieces 59 are attached at the upper end of the U-rails 55. These pieces 59 support laterally disposed outwardly projecting rollers 60. Together with the intermediate pieces 59, the U-rails 55 form a guide frame. The weight of this guide frame is borne by the angle irons via the rollers 60. The guide frames are displaced by the compressed air cylinders 61 which are pivotally connected to the guide frame via piston rods 62.

As FIG. 5 shows, the lateral plates 45 and 46 are also each provided with an intermediate wall 63, 64, which fulfills the same task as the intermediate wall 5 in the vertical pipe 4 or the intermediate wall 23 in the center plate 22.

The only non-automatic operation of the pants pressing machine according to the invention is the suspending of the pants. To effect this, the front parts of the waist band are pushed under two flexible strips 65 (FIG. 6) and by using two compressed air cylinders 66, these parts are held fast. The journal 16 is then introduced into the waist band and is moved backwards until the waistband is tensioned and thus gripped in the machine. By activating the compressed air cylinders 33, the pairs of hooks 38 and 43 are then displaced so that they are introduced into the cuffs of the pants and grip these. The machine is now switched onto automatic operation and in less than a minute the pressed pants are removed from the machine by an automatic gripping device and the machine returns to its normal position.

What is claimed is:

l. A pants pressing machine comprising a framework in which the pants to be pressed are adapted to be suspended by the waistband, a vertical pipe included in said framework provided with a clamping device on each side thereof adapted to grip a pair of pants at the front part of the waistband and at those spots at which the front creases taper off at the top, said framework having an upper portion, a downwardly projecting journal for receiving the center of the rear part of a waistband, said journal being guided horizontally in said upper portion of the machine framework, means connected to horizontally move said journal to space it at any desired distance from said vertical pipe, said framework including vcrtical guide members, vertical guide means connected for vertical movement on said vertical guide members, horizontally adjustable means connected to said vertical guide means, two pairs of upwardly projecting hooks connected to said vertical guide means by said horizontally adjustable means so as to be adjustable in height and which are adapted to grip the cuffs of the pants, one pair of said hooks being disposed on each side of said vertical pipe, said horizontally adjustable means connecting the other pair of said hooks for movement relative to said one pair of said hooks to space them at selected distances from the said one pair of said hooks, a vertically disposed center plate which is wider towards the top portion thereof adapted to be introduced between the inner and rear parts of both pants legs, said center plate pivotally connected at the top portion thereof to said downwardly projecting journal, said center plate having a lower portion operatively connected for displacement by said horizontally adjustable means of the cuff hooks, said framework having a lower portion, a pair of guide frames adapted to be displaced backwards and forwards parallel to the plane of said center plate guidingly connected at the top and bottom portions thereof respectively to said upper and lower portions of said framework, said guide frames positioned on opposite sides of said center plate, a lateral plate member connected on each guide frame of said pair of guide frames, plate moving means connected between each lateral plate member and each respective guide frame for pressing the lateral plate members against said center plate, means adapted to charge said lateral plate members with steam, and positioning means connected with each of said guide frames enabling the respective lateral plate member to be moved in a horizontal direction.

2. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said center plate and the two lateral plate members and said vertical pipe each consist on the inside of two chambers, the first of said chambers being elongated and adapted to be constantly in communication with steam having a temperature above 100 C, and the second of said chambers being larger than the first chamber and adapted to be brought into communication with the first chamber via a controllable valve, a plurality of openings in the parts of each second chamber covered by the pants to convey steam thereto, and the second chambers adapted to be connected in communication with a suction device.

3. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said lateral plate members consists of two individual spaced plate portions connected together and disposed in a common plane and which are adapted to be displaced together, the first plate portion positioned closest to said vertical pipe and having approximately the same width as said vertical pipe and adapted to be positioned adjacent said vertical pipe,

the second plate portion adapted to cover the pants in the proximity of the normal rear creases of the pants, and said second plate portion widening considerably towards the top thereof.

4. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, including means for supplying steam and subsequently hot air from above to the parts of the pants not covered by said vertical pipe, and to said center plate and said two lateral plate members.

5. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, including compressed air cylinders connected to said clamping devices and operative to bring said clamping devices into operational position.

6. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said means connected to horizontally move said journal is a compressed air cylinder adapted to first move said journal forwardly and then move said journal backwardly to tighten the waistband of the gripped pants.

7. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said positioning means connected with each of said guide frames are compressed air cylinders connected between the upper portion of said framework and each of said guide frames.

8. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said plate moving means are compressed air cylinders adapted to hold said lateral plate members in their operational position, and a return spring connected between each lateral plate member and the respective guide frame.

9. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said vertical guide means includes an extendable and retractable member connected to said upper portion of the framework to adjust the height of the pairs of hooks, and said horizontally adjustable means includes a compressed air cylinder connected to move one pair of said hooks relative to the other pair of said hooks to facilitate the gripping of the cuffs.

10. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 9,.

in which the pairs of hooks are disposed close to each other in the normal position.

l l l l l 

1. A pants pressing machine comprising a framework in which the pants to be pressed are adapted to be suspended by the waistband, a vertical pipe included in said framework provided with a clamping device on each side thereof adapted to grip a pair of pants at the front part of the waistband and at those spots at which the front creases taper off at the top, said framework having an upper portion, a downwardly projecting journal for receiving the center of the rear part of a waistband, said journal being guided horizontally in said upper portion of the machine framework, means connected to horizontally move said journal to space it at any desired distance from said vertical pipe, said framework including vertical guide members, vertical guide means connected for vertical movement on said vertical guide members, horizontally adjustable means connected to said vertical guide means, two pairs of upwardly projecting hooks connected to said vertical guide means by said horizontally adjustable means so as to be adjustable in height and which are adapted to grip the cuffs of the pants, one pair of said hooks being disposed on each side of said vertical pipe, said horizontally adjustable means connecting the other pair of said hooks for movement relative to said one pair of said hooks to space them at selected distances from the said one pair of said hooks, a vertically disposed center plate which is wider towards the top portion thereof adapted to be introduced between the inner and rear parts of both pants legs, said center plate pivotally connected at the top portion thereof to said downwardly projecting journal, said center plate having a lower portion operatively connected for displacement by said horizontally adjustable means of the cuff hooks, said framework having a lower portion, a pair of guide frames adapted to be displaced backwards and forwards parallel to the plane of said center plate guidingly connected at the top and bottom portions thereof respectively to said upper and lower portions of said framework, said guide frames positioned on opposite sides of said center plate, a lateral plate member connected on each guide frame of said pair of guide frames, plate moving means connected between each lateral plate member and each respective guide frame for pressing the lateral plate members against said center plate, means adapted to charge said lateral plate members with steam, and positioning meAns connected with each of said guide frames enabling the respective lateral plate member to be moved in a horizontal direction.
 2. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said center plate and the two lateral plate members and said vertical pipe each consist on the inside of two chambers, the first of said chambers being elongated and adapted to be constantly in communication with steam having a temperature above 100* C, and the second of said chambers being larger than the first chamber and adapted to be brought into communication with the first chamber via a controllable valve, a plurality of openings in the parts of each second chamber covered by the pants to convey steam thereto, and the second chambers adapted to be connected in communication with a suction device.
 3. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which each of said lateral plate members consists of two individual spaced plate portions connected together and disposed in a common plane and which are adapted to be displaced together, the first plate portion positioned closest to said vertical pipe and having approximately the same width as said vertical pipe and adapted to be positioned adjacent said vertical pipe, the second plate portion adapted to cover the pants in the proximity of the normal rear creases of the pants, and said second plate portion widening considerably towards the top thereof.
 4. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, including means for supplying steam and subsequently hot air from above to the parts of the pants not covered by said vertical pipe, and to said center plate and said two lateral plate members.
 5. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, including compressed air cylinders connected to said clamping devices and operative to bring said clamping devices into operational position.
 6. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said means connected to horizontally move said journal is a compressed air cylinder adapted to first move said journal forwardly and then move said journal backwardly to tighten the waistband of the gripped pants.
 7. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said positioning means connected with each of said guide frames are compressed air cylinders connected between the upper portion of said framework and each of said guide frames.
 8. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said plate moving means are compressed air cylinders adapted to hold said lateral plate members in their operational position, and a return spring connected between each lateral plate member and the respective guide frame.
 9. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said vertical guide means includes an extendable and retractable member connected to said upper portion of the framework to adjust the height of the pairs of hooks, and said horizontally adjustable means includes a compressed air cylinder connected to move one pair of said hooks relative to the other pair of said hooks to facilitate the gripping of the cuffs.
 10. A pants pressing machine as set forth in claim 9, in which the pairs of hooks are disposed close to each other in the normal position. 